To be a pool builder is to keep one eye on the market and one eye on the clientele as you plan for the
coming year. This spring, we mark the fourth anniversary of the historic surge that took pool and spa
ownership to record levels. That momentous outpouring of passion for our products has abated to some
extent, but retains much of its flow, and sales remain at elevated levels.
Still, throughout this report, respondents indicate they’re keeping a watchful eye out for what many consider
an inevitable downturn. Those who saw 2008 and 1993 firsthand have a hard time believing these days will last
forever. For now, though, it remains a great time to be a pool builder.
Labor
Labor remains a hurdle for pool builders, as it is for all of the trades. It’s a problem with many facets, and
construction companies cope with it with different strategies to attract and retain good workers. This year’s SOI
survey details both the scope and severity of the situation.
Operations
Builders face a rapidly evolving economic landscape, and companies are adjusting quickly to respond to changes in
supply, logistics, worker needs, product demand and consumer psychology, to name just a few mentioned below.